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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "FROM THE DESK OF MR KENNY JOHN" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <kennyjohn177@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 17:07:13 +0100
Subject: Good Day
FROM THE DESK OF MR KENNY JOHN
CHAIRMAN DEBT RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE (DRC)
Good Day
With the recent warning from international monitory fund in respect of your over due contract fund which still hold by Federal government of Nigeria. President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered DEBT RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE to transfer your contract sum of US$15M (FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS ONLY.)ON CONTRACT NUMBER: NNPC/NLNG/PED/407/2007 into your account without further delay.
In this regards,you are to contact me with these information immediately as you re-confirm the information to enable us transfer this fund into your account as soon as possible.
The information are ;
Your Complete name:
Your Contact address:
Your Bank particulars:
Your Telephone number:
You are advised to complete this instruction within 48 hours of this notice.
YOURS IN SERVICE,
MR KENNY JOHN
CHAIRMAN DEBT RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE (DRC)
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Anti-fraud resources:
